Inside the Manchester United locker room, Ferguson laid out the tactics.
Modric and Ronaldo sat together.
Modric warned, "We must be careful in the second half. Suker will explode at a certain point. It's hard to explain, but it puts immense pressure on the defense."
Ferdinand and the others nodded, clearly taking it seriously. Whether it was Modric's current position in the team or his understanding of Suker, they had every reason to listen to his advice. Moreover, thanks to Modric's decisions in the first half, they had completed the comeback.
"And also, Real Madrid might use Suker as bait!" Modric added.
Everyone looked at Modric in surprise.
"Use Suker as bait?" Ferdinand asked, puzzled. "Use such a strong forward as bait?"
Modric pointed at Ferdinand. "Your reaction shows you haven't considered this. In our national team matches, we also have Suker play the role of a decoy. It makes the opponent's defense disoriented. And it's not just that—Real Madrid has reasons to use Suker as bait because Benzema beside him already has extremely strong goal-scoring ability."
Modric said seriously, "Benzema was a main striker at Lyon. After coming to Real Madrid, he had to make way for Suker. But even under Suker's shadow, he still achieved excellent goal and assist numbers. So, we must be wary of this French forward!"
On the other side, Evra nodded. "I agree with Luka. We can't underestimate Benzema. His finishing is superb."
Ferdinand and Vidic nodded. "So, we need to mark Benzema closely in the second half?"
Modric nodded. "Yes, but we can't relax against Suker either. Stay alert at all times."
Everyone nodded in agreement. With Modric's reminders, their thinking became clearer, and their confidence in winning the match grew. They believed this season would be another glorious one, another climb to the pinnacle of Europe! They would create glory together at Manchester United!
The halftime break ended.
Players from both teams entered the pitch.
"After the first half, Real Madrid is currently trailing Manchester United 1-2. Mourinho hasn't made any substitutions, clearly still trusting these Real Madrid players. But for Real Madrid, they are behind and need to work harder to score."
The second half began with the teams switching sides.
Suker stood at the center circle with the ball at his feet.
Mourinho's instructions were to stabilize the situation, focus on defense, and wait for substitutions. But while maintaining a solid defense, Suker believed there were still opportunities to take risks. If they succeeded, the situation could change entirely, making Mourinho's substitution adjustments easier.
The coach uses tactics to provide a better playing environment for the players, and the players need to perform to give the coach a more advantageous situation. The two are interconnected and mutually supportive.
The whistle blew.
Suker passed the ball forward, and Benzema immediately passed it back.
"Here we are in the second half of the 2010/2011 Champions League final. With the whistle, the second half has begun!"
"Manchester United is currently leading Real Madrid 2-1. After an intense first half, both teams are under different levels of pressure. How they digest this match and perform better in the remaining time..."
The commentator was discussing tactics, but on the field, Real Madrid lost possession during a buildup. Manchester United gained the ball, but Real Madrid didn't press immediately. Instead, they retreated steadily, preventing United from launching a quick counterattack.
Modric smiled slightly upon seeing this. Wasting time was exactly what they wanted!
Manchester United began passing leisurely around their midfield and defense.
Suker gritted his teeth. He had never found Modric so annoying! At this moment, he really wanted to kick Modric's butt. But he held back. It wasn't time to charge yet. Mourinho had said to wait until after the 55th-minute substitutions before adjusting the offense.
The Real Madrid players were playing passively.
Ferguson watched this calmly. "They're waiting for substitutions," he mused, chewing his gum leisurely. After gaining the advantage, he felt much more at ease. Of course, a one-goal lead wasn't entirely safe, but against Real Madrid, taking the lead was already quite an achievement.
Manchester United passed the ball around for a full four minutes before attempting to push forward.
The ball moved to the wing. Rooney received it but didn't force the issue. He had a hot temper, but he wasn't stupid. Srna had repeatedly contained him before, both at Inter Milan and in national team matches. He had suffered losses against Srna multiple times. In fact, Srna was one of the most annoying full-backs Rooney had ever faced.
So, he didn't act recklessly and instead passed the ball sideways.
Modric made a forward run to receive the ball, looking around to assess the situation. But he failed to notice Suker and Benzema sneaking up behind him.
"Luka!" Ferdinand was the first to spot the sneaky Benzema and immediately shouted a warning.
"Too late!" Suker roared. "Karim, get him!"
Suker rushed forward, suddenly appearing in front of Modric, startling the latter. Modric instinctively pulled the ball back but was firmly blocked by Benzema. At that moment, Suker stretched out his foot and poked the ball away.
Real Madrid completed the interception at the center circle.
The ball landed at Diarra's feet, who promptly pushed it forward to Kaka.
At the same time, Suker and Benzema almost simultaneously started sprinting toward Manchester United's goal.
Suker sprinted diagonally toward the left side of the goal, while Benzema stayed closer to the center. One in front, one in the middle, they pressed United's defense deep into their own half.
Seeing the defense being pushed back into the six-yard box, Van der Sar shouted, "Press out!!"
At that moment, Kaka looked up toward United's penalty area and suddenly lofted a pass. The ball curved through the air like a rainbow, flying into United's penalty area.
"Mark Benzema!!" The trajectory of the ball was hard to judge, but as long as they marked the attacking players, it should be fine.
Ferdinand immediately retreated. Thanks to Modric's reminder, he hadn't overlooked Benzema. Sure enough, Kaka was looking to pass to Benzema.
"Kaka crosses!!! Can Benzema reach it?"
But before Benzema could jump, Ferdinand leaped first to contest the header. However, Ferdinand watched in dismay as the ball sailed over his head. Was this pass overhit?
"This ball from Kaka goes to the back post, but there's no one there..."
Before he could finish, a white figure suddenly burst into the frame. Di Maria arrived late, crouched low, and slid forward. Meeting the dropping ball, he cushioned it with the top of his foot.
Di Maria slid out of bounds toward the goal line. When he turned his head, he saw the ball nestled in the back of the net.
"It's in!!"
Di Maria jumped up excitedly and sprinted toward the corner flag.
The entire stadium fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into a roar.
Tens of thousands of Real Madrid fans erupted in cheers.
Whoooooooooooooooooosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—
"Goal! Goal! Di Maria!! This is unbelievable! No one was paying attention to Di Maria. Everyone was focused on Suker and Benzema."
"Oh my! Kaka's pass was so cunning! I thought it was overhit, but it was meant for Di Maria all along!"
"Di Maria reached the ball before it hit the ground and finished with a brilliant volley!"
"52 minutes! Just seven minutes into the second half, Real Madrid has equalized!"
"They're back on level terms! Currently, Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester United! The situation hasreturned to square one, and the outcome is still unpredictable."
"Both teams have shown brilliant performances, not just individually but also in their teamwork! This is fantastic!"
On the sidelines, Mourinho stared at the pitch in astonishment. He hadn't expected a goal. His instructions were to stabilize the situation. But...
"What a beautiful goal!!"
Mourinho jumped up, pumping his fist and shouting loudly!
The score was level now, and the situation was balanced. His substitutions were no longer passive; they were back on equal footing. Undoubtedly, Kaka's unexpected long pass had given Mourinho a significant tactical advantage!
Mourinho let out a long sigh. He thought Ferguson had him cornered, but his players had fought back hard, helping him regain the tactical initiative.
Mourinho was brimming with confidence.
"Substitution!"
"Substitution!"
Mourinho and Ferguson almost simultaneously called for substitutions, then locked eyes, their gazes filled with rivalry.
"Real Madrid and Manchester United are making substitutions at the same time!"
"For Manchester United, Valencia comes off, and Hernández comes on. As Ferguson's favorite super-sub, Hernández has repeatedly contributed brilliant performances for United."
"Real Madrid, on the other hand, brings on Arbeloa and Garay for Marcelo and Diarra. This further strengthens the defense, creating a better attacking environment for Suker!"
"In fact, when Real Madrid's left wing was under pressure, Suker's offensive performance was also affected. Mourinho intends to rebuild the defensive structure and completely unleash Suker, the super striker!"
Both teams completed their substitutions.
The situation was now level. Both Real Madrid and Manchester United would become more cautious and sensitive at this point. After all, any goal could decide the victory, and there was no room for carelessness!
Suker saw the substitutions and finally let out a sigh of relief. It was finally time to unleash his power! He needed to vent the frustration from the first half.
He applied the [Status Recovery Card]!
A cool sensation spread throughout his body, stripping away the fatigue and bringing his physical condition to its peak.
It was the 55th minute of the game. Both teams had scored two goals each—four goals in 55 minutes showed how intense the match was. This kind of situation also placed huge demands on stamina.
Ferguson bringing on Hernández was clearly intended to strengthen the attack, letting the forwards charge ahead while holding two substitution spots in reserve.
Mourinho, as always, strengthened the defense. For Real Madrid, there was no need to use substitution spots on the forward line unless someone couldn't run anymore. As for the attack, Suker alone could handle it. After all, Suker's impact was undeniable.
Mourinho's approach was very clear: build a defense for Suker, stabilize the rear, and let Suker charge at the opponent's defense without any worries.
Suker jumped forcefully. Feeling the lightness of his body, he showed a fierce smile toward Manchester United's half.
"Damn it!" Modric felt a heaviness in his heart. He had guessed that Real Madrid might use Suker as bait, but he had guessed wrong about the main attacker. He never expected there would be two decoys. Both Suker and Benzema were used as bait, letting Di Maria take on the goal-scoring task.
But admittedly, Real Madrid's tactic caught them off guard and allowed them to equalize. The current situation was not favorable for Manchester United. Not only had they lost their advantage, but the clock had also ticked to the 55th minute. This was the time when Suker was supposed to explode. The second-half Suker was deadly!
"Defend! Defend! Solidify the defense!" Modric kept reminding everyone. He could feel that Suker was about to charge at their defense. They had to gather their strength to build a solid defense, stabilize it first, and then consider counterattacking.
The game restarted.
Taking advantage of Manchester United not having substituted their defense, Suker intended to apply intense pressure.
"Pass!" Suker made a horizontal run. When he found space, Kaka immediately slotted the ball through. Suker received the ball, and Modric instantly closed him down.
With your small frame, can you handle me? Suker didn't even bother with feints; he simply used his body to bump against Modric. Modric, already fatigued, was no match for Suker's physicality under such intense confrontation.
As Modric was pushed away, Suker stopped abruptly. Modric pounced again. Suker shifted the ball sideways and then cut inside with a fluid motion, evading Modric's continuous pressing and completing the dribble.
Thud! Modric was directly faked out by Suker and landed on his backside. His face turned pale. Not from exhaustion, but from fear! We're done for! This guy is at it again!
"Oh~~~ Suker! Continuous feints! In such an intense match, he can still maintain this level of stamina. It's simply unimaginable!"
Suker passed the ball to Di Maria, and the two executed a one-two. Vidic charged at Suker. The two collided heavily.
Bang! Suker staggered slightly. As expected of the desperate warrior, this guy charged without regard for his balance. If Suker had dodged, Vidic would have taken a tumble.
Vidic quickly stabilized his footing. By then, Suker was already preparing to burst into the penalty area.
"Get back here!" Vidic reached out and grabbed Suker hard. The referee squinted, already preparing to blow his whistle.
But the next second, Suker suddenly accelerated. Vidic, caught off guard, was directly pulled down by Suker. The referee's eyes widened at the sight!
The same white jersey, the same number 9 kit! It was like watching the era of the original Ronaldo!
"Vidic! He failed to stop Suker's breakthrough. Suker! Shoot!"
Suker burst into the penalty area and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot toward the goal.
By the time Suker completed the shot, he was already tackled to the ground by Ferdinand. But the ball was already in the net, the white net rippling.
"GoooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaL!!!!"
"Suker!!!! Goal! Goal! Suker scores his second goal! In the 58th minute, just five minutes after the previous goal, Suker contributes again! Real Madrid leads Manchester United 3-2!"
"Modric couldn't stop Suker! Vidic couldn't hold him back! This is like Suker's personal showtime! With such an insane performance, how can Manchester United contain this generation's 'Alien'?!"
The camera focused on the Manchester United bench. Ferguson stood on the sidelines, his face gradually turning red, showing signs of anger. In such a situation, with Suker performing like this, it would be strange if Ferguson could remain seated!
Mourinho also looked at the pitch, his expression full of emotion. "I'm curious how Suker manages his stamina. Even after charging so fiercely in the first half, he can still deliver such a performance in the second half!"
Many people thought Suker exploded in the second half. But Mourinho knew Suker's condition always stayed at a high average level. The problem was, after entering the second half, it was as if he refreshed his status, suddenly displaying that average level again. This was deadly when others were tiring and their muscles weakening.
Just like with Vidic. If it were a fully fit Vidic, Suker wouldn't have been able to pull him down. But unfortunately, Vidic had been battling Benzema for 58 minutes, expending huge energy. Combined with Suker's explosive impact, it was no wonder Vidic couldn't hold on.
"His stamina has always been excellent," Faria shrugged. "Maybe Suker has his own way of managing stamina. But this method probably only works for a stamina monster like Suker. Others simply can't learn it."
Mourinho deeply agreed. He didn't dwell on it further. After all, they had taken the lead. That was what mattered most! Besides, with a goal at this stage and plenty of time left, Suker would undoubtedly continue to charge.
Mourinho turned to look at Ferguson! Those two substitution spots you're holding onto—can't hold back anymore, can you? If you don't strengthen the defense soon, Suker will tear through your backline. And it won't be just a matter of one or two goals then.
Ferguson looked grim. His two substitution spots were originally intended for other purposes. But in the current situation, if he didn't reinforce the defense, it would collapse prematurely. Using them on defense wouldn't help the situation much. It was the difference between having your throat slit outright or slowly bleeding out from internal wounds. But if they could slow down Suker's charge, they might still have a chance...
Reluctantly, Ferguson had to compromise.
"Substitution!"